Gas-lighter for automobile-lamps.



H. v. COLE. GAS LIGHTER FOB AUTOMOBILE'LAMPS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1908.

Patented June 14, 1910;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN V. COLE, OF MONTE VISTA, COLORADO.

GAS-LIGHTER FOR AUTOMOBILE-LAMPS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN V. COLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monte Vista, in the county of Rio Grande and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Lighters for Automobile-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a gas lighting system for automobile lamps, whereby the chauffeur can light the lamps without leaving the car, and although the invention is particularly useful in this connection, it is to be understood that the lighters may be applied to gas burners for house or other lighting systems.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction of devices of this character so as to be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and efficient in use, and readily adapted to any ordinary burner.

Another object of the invent-ion is the provision of a gas lighter in the nature of an attachment so designed as to be readily applied to a gas burner, and conveniently adjustable thereon to place the terminals or electrodes in proper relation to the jet of gas for igniting the same when a spark jumps from one electrode to the other.

With these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit connections applied to a plurality of gas lighters. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the yoke or frame of the lighter. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the clamping block cooperating with the yoke for securing the latter to the burner tube of the lamp.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the burner tube of an ordinary lamp in which is fitted a jet tip 2 of any approved form, that shown being of the style used in connection with acetylene lamps commonly in use on automobiles. On the burner tube 1 is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 25, 1908.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 454,701.

mounted the gas lighting device designated generally by A, the same including a pair of electrodes or terminals 3 and 4 that extend upwardly along opposite sides of the burner tube and are bent inwardly at their upper ends toward each other and slightly spaced apart to form a spark gap directly in the path of the gas issuing from the jet 2. The electrode 3 is mounted in a frame or yoke 5 that is composed of spaced side members 6 that span the burner tube 1 in a horizontal plane, the members being connected by a cross bar 7 in which the lower end of the terminal 3 is secured. On this cross bar is a fastening screw 8 that passes inwardly be tween the members 6 to engage the burner tube 1. The free extremities of the members 6 are provided with apertures 9 and between these members is arranged a block of insulation 10 that is secured in place by pins 11 that pass through the apertures 9 of the members or arms 6. The inner face 12 of the block 10 is concave so as to conform to the outer surface of the burner tube to obtain a substantial grip thereon, and by tightening the screw 8, the block 10 will be gripped on the burner tube at one side while the inner end of the screw binds against the tube at the opposite side, and by attaching the device to the burner tube in this manner, it can be adjusted around or up and down on the latter to bring the terminals or electrodes in proper position. The electrode t is inserted in an aperture 13 in the block 10 and enters an opening 14: in a metal screw 15 mounted in the block 10, the terminal thus preventing the screw from turning. The screw 15 forms a binding post on which is a winged nut 16 for clamping the terminal clip 17 to the screw, there being a metallic washer 18 on the screw against which the clip bears for good electrical connection with the screw.

The ignition device A is connected in any suitable manner in a high tension circuit through which an alternating current passes to produce a succession of sparks at the gaps between the electrodes of the device. In Fig. 1, the ignition devices are shown connected in multiple circuit with the secondary of a Ruhmkorff coil by wires 19 and 20 respectively, the branches 19 being grounded on the burner tubes or pipes connected therewith, while the wires 20 are connected with the terminal tips 17. The current in the primary circuit is derived from a battery B or other suitable source which is connected with the primary terminals 21 and 22 by the wires 23 and 24, and in the wire 23 is a push button 25 for closing the primary circuit. hen the push button is closed, a high tension current is induced in the secondary circuit in which the lighters are included, and by means of the coil, a rapid succession of sparks occurs at the electrodes of the lighters. The current, in passing through a lighter, takes the path consisting of the terminal tips 17, screw 15, electrode 4, electrode 3, frame or yoke 5, and burner l which, like the tip 17, is connected with the vibrating coil.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily ap parent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appert-ains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. The combination of a burner including a tip, with an ignition device comprising a frame arranged to straddle the burner, a block of insulation on the frame and adapted to bear against the burner at one side, a clamping screw on the frame adapted to bear on the burner at the opposite side, electrodes mounted on the block and frame, and means for connecting the electrodes in circuit with the source of high tension intermittent current.

2. The combination of a burner including a tip, with an ignition device comprising a frame embracing the burner, a block of in sulation secured to the frame, a fastening on the frame cooperating with the said block to adjustably secure the device to the burner, an electrode mounted on the frame, an electrode mounted on the block, and a binding post electrically connected with the lastmentioned electrode and insulated from the frame.

3. A device of the class described comprising a frame having spaced members a daptcd to straddle the burner and provided with apertures, a block of insulation disposed between the members, fastenings on the block and engaging in the apertures of the members for connecting the block with the frame, a clamping screw on the frame and disposed opposite the block, an electrode on the frame, a screw set into the block and projecting therefrom to form a binding post, an electrode on the block and arranged to prevent the last-mentioned screw from turning, and means on the binding post for securing a conductor thereto.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN V. COLE. Vitnesses S. J. VAN VALIN, C. G. BECHTEL. 

